CHICAGO: The legendary band is working on new music
However, it may not come out as a traditional album.
Founding member Rober Lamm tells Gulfport, Mississippi's Sun-Herald, "We’re actually writing songs and sending things back and forth to each other." And new bassist Jeff Coffey -- who replaced 30-year member Jason Scheff last year -- is involved. Lamm calls him "quite a good writer, and he writes with good people."
Before heading out on their summer tour with The Doobie Brothers, they plan to start recording. Lamm says they'll likely "take it a couple of tunes at a time and see if there’s some sort of direction."
Chicago will perform Tuesday night at the Sanger Theater in New Orleans. The tour will make a stop in Dallas on June 16th.
QUEEN: Custom version of Monopoly on the way
Here's a new twist on rock and roll merch: a version of Monopoly based on the classic band Queen.
Brian May says on his website that after a year in development, the board game will be out in May. Along with photos of the box -- showing the game's familiar logo along with the band's -- he says, "I'm excited... It was a blast working on it...like making an album! We hope you love it!"
Another photo on May's page shows variations on the usual game pieces -- we noticed such tokens as a robot (inspired by one on their News of the World album cover), a guitar, a bicycle (referencing their song "Bicycle Race"), a hammer (the song "Hammer to Fall") and an old-time radio.
CHUCK BERRY: Final album plans will be released this week
Chuck Berry's family says that plans regarding his final album will be revealed this week.
On the rock pioneer's Facebook page, they write, "Working to prepare the release of this record...brought Chuck a great sense of joy and satisfaction." Admitting that their "hearts are very heavy at this time, we know that Chuck had no greater wish than to see this album released to the world, and we know of no better way to celebrate and remember his 90 years of life than through his music."
Berry revealed plans for the album -- to be released on Dualtone Records -- when he turned 90 last October.